Who was Anne Maria Berg’s husband and what happened to him? •••••••••••••••

Sivert Berg’s daughter Anne Maria married Peder O. Evjen on 24 September 1881.  2 months after they married she gave birth to their first son Sivert Evjen. Two years later they had a second child.  21 Feb 1883 she gave birth to Andrew Martin Evjen. She had complications from the birth and died two weeks later on 8 March 1883.  After her death Peder traveled west and was never heard from again.  His two young sons were raised by the Bergs.  When they were of age, they both traveled west. Andrew settled in Montana and Sivert made his home in British Columbia, Canada.


The problem we’ve had trying to find Peder is all of the names. Did he stick with Evjen or did he use Meraker? Maybe he switched to Merager like his parents? Another option might be Lille-Krogstad, one of the names his parents had in Norway. He could have used just about any name under the sun.


He shows up a few times in “Pioneer History”. 

Twice as Peder O. Meraker. Was this the name he used?  

LINK 1    Gives marriage date to Anne Maria Berg, her death date,

        names of their sons, where their sons went and that Peder left

        after her death and was never heard from again. His name also

        changes from Peder in the headline to Peter when he leaves.

LINK 2   Gives Peder’s birth date, Anne Mariia’s birth date, and

        names their two sons.


Twice as the son of Ole Merager. Was this the name he used?   

LINK   It says Ole’s son Peder married a daughter of Sivert Berg.

LINK   It says he was Ole’s son Peter.

           (NOTE: Ole is also named Pynten. His birth name.

             See left column for more information.)


The Church Registry lists him as Evjen.

George Carlson has them online. Here are links:

Nidaros Weddings starting 1868   LINK

Nidaros Baptisms starting in 1868   LINK


Peder and Anne Maria’s marriage and the birth of both of their children are listed. In all three records he goes by the name Evjen.


The interesting thing about the link regarding Ole Merager is that it names the entire family. Peder’s sister would be Anne (Anna- Annie). She married Ludvig Wold. It says that they have 2 daughters and live in Los Angeles, California. (The book was originally published in 1928). “The Man is now dead” seems to refer to Ludvig. He died in South Dakota. The last sentence says:


“The property was sold after the wife’s death and Ole moved to his daughter’s, Mrs. Wold, while they lived here and lived there the rest of his life.”


A little confusing, but it sounds like Ole moved into his daughter’s home while she still lived in South Dakota and lived there the rest of his life.


Annie married Ludvig in 1895. He died around 1898 and left her as a widow with two daughters. Ole’s wife Ingeborg died in 1894. He sold his property after she died and moved in with Annie. He died at the age of 74 in 1903. After he died Annie sold her home and moved out west with her two daughters. Their names were Inez  and Louise. If you track them, they show up in Seattle, and eventually in Los Angeles.


Looking around Seattle in the 1900-1910 time frame I found Peder. I’m not the only one who found him. There have been many people looking and have seen this same man. How can we be sure it’s him? I believe we can say this is the same man because his obituary says he died at his sister Anna Wold’s home.



Peter O. Evjen Timeline ••••••••••••••••••••••


1855 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Peder is born May 30, 1855 in Meråker, Norway. He is baptized June 24. Ole Johanneson Lille-Krogstad and Ingeborg Petersdatter are his parents. They later go by the name Merager in America.


Source information:

Nord-Trøndelag county, Meråker, Parish register (official) nr. 706A01 (1850-1861), Birth and baptism records 1855, page 18.

Permanent pagelink

Permanent imagelink


1875 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Immigration to America. Like the Bergs, he traveled first to Quebec. He arrived 18 May 1875 from Liverpool, England aboard the vessel ‘Moravian’.   LINK


1880 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Living with brother Johanes at Sivert Berg's.  LINK


1881 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

September 24 Marries Sivert's daughter Anne Maria.  LINK


29 Nov 1881 son Sivert Evjen is born.  LINK


1883 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

21 Feb 1883 son Andrew Martin Evjen is born.  LINK


Wife Anne Maria dies Mar. 8, 1883.


1900 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Living in Fir, Skagit County, Washington

He is a Day Laborer. He owns his home and is paying a mortgage. Age: 45;  Birth Date: May 1855;  Birthplace: Norway

His Immigration Year is listed as 1875 and he is Widowed.

LINK


1903 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••


His father Ole dies. In his probate they give Peder’s address as Alaska. He may have been there for the Yukon Gold Rush.

“Peder Evjen or Merager, a son living in Alaska Territory. Post Office address is unknown.”

When he receives his distribution from the Last Will, he is living in Skagit County, Washington.

Click Image for larger view.


1906 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

19 May 1906 he dies two weeks short of his 51st birthday while living at his sister Annie’s in Seattle, Washington.


Obituary from Seattle Times, 20 May 1906; Page: 4 

LINK


Statistics from Seattle Times, 21 May 1906; Page: 10 

LINK


Register of Deaths

Peder is number 16315 (at the bottom of the page)

Occupation: Miner.  Cause of Death: Tumor. 

LINK


Death Record

Peder is number 1370.

Occupation: Miner. 

Chief Cause of Death: Tumor of Oesophagus. 

Contributing Cause of Death: Suffocation.

LINK


He's buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.  LINK


He might have a probate file. They seem to have info from that time frame:   LINK

King County

• Probate

   Indexes, 1853-1977

   Cause Files, 1853-1971



Annie Wold Timeline •••••••••••••••••••••••••

In order to find Peder, I needed to trace his family. Particularly Annie. She’s turned out to be very interesting.


1864 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Annie is born in Meråker, Norway. Her birthday is fuzzy in the records.

1895 Marriage in Apr. She is 30. If she was married in April and

         born in Jun, her birth would be 1864.

1900 census it is Jun 1864

1910 census it is 1868

1920 census it is abt 1866


This is her birth record. She is number 31, Born 4 June 1864 to Ole Johannesen Overbrende and Ingeborg Pedersdatter.


Source information:

Nord-Trøndelag county, Meråker in Øvre Stjørdal, Parish register (official) nr. 706A02 (1862-1877), Birth and baptism records 1864, page 8.

Permanent pagelink:

Permanent imagelink:


NOTE:

Ole’s name keeps changing because he is moving. Norwegian naming practices at the time use last names almost like an address. The farm they are living on becomes their last name.


1878 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She travels to America.


1879 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She is confirmed at Old Nidaros Church along with future sister-in-law Anne Berg (Mrs. P.O. Evjen).

LINK


1889 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ludwig Wold living in Sioux Falls. He is a Harness Maker. 1889 Sioux Falls Directory.  LINK


1894 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Her mother Ingeborg dies.


1895 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ludvig Wold in “Pioneer History”. This was his second marriage.    LINK


Marriage to Annie Olsdatter (She went by the name Olson, but Ole’s daughter works just as well)


Marriage Date: Apr 23 1895

Groom: Wold, Ludvig - Age: 40

Residence: Baltic/Minnehaha/SD

Bride: Olson, Annie - Age: 30

Residence: Baltic/Minnehaha/SD

Witness: Haus H. Sandvig, Tilie Fanebust

N. Boe, minister - married Sioux Falls 

LINK


Here’s a photo of the Rev. Nils N. Boe and family 1905  LINK



Daughter Inez Constance Wold is born 21 Oct 1895

Father: Ludvig Wold

Mother: Anne Olsdatter Wold; born Meraker

Source: Old Nidaros Church records

LINK


1897 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Annie’s sister Ragnild Hanson dies. (1867-1897). This might be a photo of her. She was married to H. W. Hansen (Hanson).  The person in the photo at left is identified as “Ragnhild (Rachel) Olson (Mrs. H. Hanson)”. The photo is of the first Nidaros church choir in 1888. She would have been about 21 years old in this photo.

Click Image for larger view.


Here’s the entire photo.   LINK


NOTE:

Several records for this family can be found in the “Old Nidaros Church”.  Here’s a link to George Carlson’s sodcity page about the church. It’s still in use and has a very interesting history.

LINK



1898 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Daughter Louise Anita Wold is born 13 May 1898


Annie Wold living in Baltic. (North of Sioux Falls) She is listed as widow of Ludwig. 1898 Sioux Falls Directory. Ludvig’s son from his first marriage (Axel) is listed as a Harness Maker.  LINK


1900 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Listed as 35 years old. Living in Sverdup. She is a widow with daughters Inez C. and Louise A. She is a Boarding House Keeper. She owns the house free and clear. 71 year old father Ole Meraker is living with them. He is a widower.   LINK


NOTE:

They are number 42. Household number 45 is HW Hanson. Widower. He was sister Ragnhild’s husband. Household 40 was the Questads who ran a General Store. There are photos of it here.

LINK


George is always adding photos, but on page 3 he has several 1900 photos of Baltic that show the Questad General Store and what Baltic looked like when Annie lived there.


1903 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Her father Ole dies.


1906 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Brother Peder dies in May.


NOTE:

I have seen the articles below in Genealogy Bank. It looks like Anna sells her home and moves to a new one, but this is a different Anna Wold. Her middle initial is “T”, and there are other articles identifying her as another woman. I’ll leave them here for now. These are snippets of articles available for purchase from the Seattle Daily Times Archives, or can be viewed in Genealogy Bank’s website.

Seattle Daily Times 30 Sept, 1906  LINK

Seattle Daily Times 10 Nov, 1906  LINK

Seattle Daily Times 11 Nov, 1906  LINK


1910 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Annie is listed as 42 years old and living with her 2 daughters at 1708 Harvard Ave., Seattle, WA.

Her year of immigration is listed as 1878. She is a widow and the mother of 2 children. Both children are still living. Her occupation is Keeper of a Lodging House. She is not an Employer or Employee, but is working on her "Own Account". She owns the home, but is still paying a mortgage.

Daughter Inez is 14 and was born in South Dakota. She is single and has no profession.

Daughter Louise A. is 11 and was born in South Dakota. She is single and has no profession.

LINK 1 (Bottom of Page)    LINK 2 (Top of Page)


1920 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She is 54 years old and living at 941, 29th Ave., Seattle, WA

Inez is a Stenographer at an Automobile Company and Louise is an Assistant at a Dental Office.

LINK


1921 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Mrs. Anna Wold announces the marriage of her daughter Inez Constance Wold to Millard Cornelius Murane.

LINK


1922 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

22 September 1922. Headline front page. Widow Anna Wold is the last to escape a fire that burns everything she owns.

LINK


1930 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She is living in Los Angeles, California. The census shows Anna L Wold as a mother-in-law living with Inez. She is shown Age 64 born in Norway. (birth would be abt 1866). Inez is born in South Dakota and is age 32. (birth would be abt 1898) They are near the bottom of the page.

LINK


1936 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Living in Fontana, California. Anna is Republican, Millard and Inez are Democrats.

LINK


1940 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Still living with Inez. See more below in Inez information.


1958 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

SPECULATION:

I believe this is Anna. Middle initial and birth date don’t match, but Mother's Maiden Name and Father's Surname make it hard to believe it could be anyone else.


California Death Index, 1940-1997

Name: Anna L Wold  

           [Anna L Merager] 

Birth Date: 4 Jun 1866

Birthplace: Other Country

Death Date: 7 Feb 1958

Death Place: San Bernardino

Mother's Maiden Name: Krogstad

Father's Surname: Merager



Here’s her Obituary.


From “The San Bernardino County Sun”

9 Feb 1958.

LINK





And 3 days later, notice that the funeral took place. Lists pallbearers and service details.


From “The San Bernardino County Sun”

12 Feb 1958.

LINK





Annie’s Daughters ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

There’s really no need for any more information on this line. We’ve proved that Peder Evjen died at Annie’s home in Seattle, so I’ll end this page here.


....OK. After all this research, I was curious to see what happened to her daughters. Here’s what I’ve found.



Louise Anita Wold (Cullen) •••••••••••••••••


1898 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She is born 13 May, 1898.

LINK


1914 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She is confirmed in Seattle 10 May, 1914. Date of birth is listed as 13 May, 1898. Parents are Ludvig Wold and Anne Merager.

LINK



1916 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Broadway High School; Seattle, Washington, USA

1916 yearbook.


Click Image for larger view.


Here’s a closeup of the photo.   LINK


1921 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Sister Inez marries Millard Murane. The Wedding is announced May 5, 1921 in the Seattle Times, but no date or location for the upcoming event is given. In July, Louise travels to Casper, Wyoming, where she is the guest of Judge and Mrs. C. D. Murane.


Coming and Going - Seattle Times July 24, 1921:

LINK


2 November 1921 she marries Edward Trask Cullen in Seattle.


Marriage Certificate:

LINK


Today’s News of Interest to Women - Seattle Times Nov 8, 1921. Article describes the wedding ceremony and notes they will be making their home in Los Angeles.

LINK


1940 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Living in Los Angeles. She is a housewife. He is an accountant at an Oil Refining Company.

LINK


1948 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Louise dies in Los Angeles. I haven’t been able to find her death certificate yet, but she appears in the California Death Index, and her death notice from one of the newspapers is below.


Death Notice: LA Newspaper

LINK


Funeral Notice: LA Newspaper. This one says she was the beloved wife of Mr. Ed Cullen.

LINK


California Death Index, 1940-1997

Name: Louise Anita Cullen

            [Louise Anita Wold]

Birth Date: 13 May 1898

Birthplace: South Dakota

Death Date: 15 Feb 1948

Death Place: Los Angeles

Mother's Maiden Name: Merager

Father's Surname: Wold


Found her Death Certificate. She was in the hospital for two weeks with pneumonia. Due to other complications her heart shut down.

LINK




Inez Constance Wold (Murane) ••••••••••••


1910 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

12 June 1910 She is confirmed in Seattle. Date of birth is listed as 21 Ocober, 1895. Parents are Ludvig Wold and Anne Merager. She was born in Baltic, South Dakota and baptized 22 December 1895.

LINK


1913 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Broadway High School; Seattle, Washington, USA

1913 yearbook.


Click Image for larger view.


Here’s a closeup of the photo.   LINK



1921 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

5 May 1921 Mrs. Anna Wold announces the marriage of her daughter Inez Constance Wold to Millard Cornelius Murane, son of Judge C. D. Murane.

LINK


22 June 1921 the wedding takes place in Casper, Wyoming.

LINK


1923 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

07 Sep 1923 she has a son named Daniel E Murane.

(Thanks to information from one of Inez’s grandsons)


Here’s a link to his birth in "California, Birth Index, 1905-1995".

LINK


1929 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

30 April 1929, son Daniel dies.

LINK   to record in “California, Death Index, 1905-1939”


LINK   to image


1930 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She is living in Los Angeles, California. The census shows Anna L Wold as a mother-in-law living with them. Anna is age 64 born in Norway. Inez is born in South Dakota and is age 32. They are near the bottom of the page.

LINK


1931 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Husband Millard’s mother passes away. Obituary - Los Angeles, California. Published 16 March 1931. Lydia E. Murane.

LINK


1940 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

She is living in Los Angeles, California. Millerd Murane age 42. No profession is listed. Inez Murane age 44, listed as a Stenographer.

They have two children. Elizabeth A Murane age 13 and David Murane age 11. Mother-in-law Anna Wald age 74 is still living with them.

LINK


Millard C. Murane age 42 occupation Grade School Teacher.

LINK


1951 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Husband Millard’s father passes away. Obituary - Deseret News, Utah, Dec. 5, 1951.

LINK


1955 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••



23 June 1955 she is installed as the Historian in the City of Fontana Auxiliary to Post 262, American Legion.

LINK




1992 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Social Security Death Index

Name: Inez W. Murane

Last Residence: 22309  Alexandria, Fairfax, Virginia, USA

Born: 21 Oct 1895

Died: 10 Feb 1992

State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)


1994 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Her husband Millard Cornelius Murane passes away.

Dec 11, 1897 - Apr 11, 1994

Here’s a link to him in Find-A-Grave:

LINK

 

Peder O. Evjen

Click Image for a larger view

Peder, Sivert, Anne Maria about 1882

Thanks to Glenda (Schjodt) Sours! Anne Maria seems to have gone by the name Maria. She appears to be pregnant with Andrew Martin. She died two weeks after his birth.


Closeup of the above photo.

LINK


Here’s a photo of Andrew Martin and brother Sivert Evjen taken around 1900.

LINK


Even more photos of Sivert and Andrew Martin here:

LINK


Click Image for a larger view

Map of the area Peder lived in

Above.


Great Link to the area. The Queen Anne Historical Society.  LINK



Click Image for Link to Historylink

Image above: HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, "Seattle Neighborhoods: Queen Anne Hill -- Thumbnail History",


Peder O. Evjen

Birth 30 May 1855 in Nord-Trøndelag county, Meråker, Norway

Death 19 May 1906 in King County, Washington state, USA


Spouse

Anne Maria Sivertsdatter Berg

Birth 29 JUL 1864 in Meråker, Nord-Trondelag, Norway

Death 1883 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA


Children

Sivert Evjen (1881-1954)


Andrew Martin Evjen (1883-1965)


Parents

Ole Johanneson Merager

Birth Jan 1829 in Meråker, Stjørdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Death 23 Apr 1903 in Sverdrup Township, Minnehaha, South Dakota


Ingeborg Petersdatter Lillekrogstad Merager

Birth 2 Apr 1827 in Meråker, Stjørdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Death 13 Nov 1894 in Sverdrup, Minnehaha, South Dakota, USA


Siblings

Ole Merager (-)


Johannes (John) Olsen Evjen

(1859-?)


Anne "Annie" Merager

B: Jun 1864 in Norway • 4 June 1866

D: California

    Married to Ludwig Wold


Ragnild Johnson (1867-1897)

   Married to H. W. Hansen (Hanson)



••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ole In Norwegian Books

Thanks to Nina Løvli Kristensen who lives in Meråker, Norway. She was kind enough to do some research for us and sent this information about Ole and his family in Norway:


“I found his parents under Rullmyra/Rulmyr farm as Ola Johannessen Pynten, born 1829, died 22.04.1903, married to Ingeborg Pedersdatter Litj Krogstad, born 1827, died 10.11.1894.


Peder is their first child born 1855 married to Anne Marie Berget, born 1864. Her parent were Sivert Sivertsen Berget, born 1823, died 1904, and Guru Estendatter Volden, born 1835. It says the family left Norway in 1867. Anne Marie came from Berget.


All these farms are in the same area, just a few hundred meters from each other.”


••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ole, his wife and daughter are buried in Pioneer Cemetery

Ole Johanneson Merager

1829 – 1903

LINK


Ingeborg Petersdatter Lillekrogstad

1827 – 1894

LINK


Daughter Ragnild Hanson

1867-1897

LINK


••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Evjen Marriage Certificates


1912 marriage Andrew Martin Evjen to Silva E. Coverdell (Curtis)

(Her 2nd marriage)

LINK


1929 marriage Arthur Evjen to Loine Ellen Crist

LINK


1930 marriage Silvia Evjen to George L. Williams

(She divorced Andrew. This is her 3rd marriage)

LINK


1932 Eva May Evjen marriage to John A. Pennoyer

LINK


1939 marriage Elizabeth Evjen to Terry Conklin

LINK


1939 marriage Homer M. Evjen to Lolah Mae Pritchard

LINK


1946 marriage Walter L. Evjen to Angeline Loran

LINK


••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ole J. Merager Probate and Last Will & Testament




Click image above to view Probate in FamilySearch


Source: South Dakota, Minnehaha County, Probate Case Records, 1873-1935.

Minnehaha Probate case records, Box 27, File 1038-1043, 1905-1906


Starts with Image 319


Ole’s Probate names his family and their aliases.


1st page starts here:   LINK


His Last Will starts here:   LINK


Approval of Last Will:   LINK


Distribution of Will:   LINK

• Peder receives his distribution in

  Skaggit Co., Washington

  Image 397

• A. M. Evjen receives his

  distribution of will. Note under his

  name reads (Also known as

  Martin Evjen)

  Image 393



••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Andrew Martin Evjen


Obituary   LINK

2 January, 1966 ; page 16 Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, Montana)


Transcription of text in document • 2 Articles


• EVJEN, Andrew Martin ?83, ?366 Sixth Ave. W. Passed away Friday morning. Funeral Services 1:30 p.m. Monday in Johnson Chapel. Interment in Conrad Memorial Cemetery.


• Evjen Funeral Set For Monday

Funeral services for Andrew Martin Evjen will be conducted in the Johnson Chapel at 1:30 p.m. Monday with the Rev. Rober E. Wall, pastor of the Easthaven Baptist Church officiating.

Interment will be in the Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

 

Ballard Bridge from lower Queen Anne Hill in 1902

Peder & his sister Anna Wold lived 1 or 2 blocks from where this photo was taken. He would have been very familiar with this view. He died 4 years after it was taken and is buried nearby at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

The image above is available online at: University of Washington Libraries • Digital Collections

Asahel Curtis Photo Company Photographs • Order Number: CUR100  •  Repository Collection: Asahel Curtis Photo Company Collection no. 482